Jim Chalmers (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

I'm talking about the madness of pulling hundreds of billions of dollars out of an economy which is already weak—already weak in per capita terms and already weak in nominal terms.

Now, what we've done is: we've managed this economy responsibly. We've maintained a primary focus on inflation but not ignored the risks to growth or the pressures that people are under. Per capita growth went backwards on a number of instances under those opposite as well. We understand that the economy is particularly soft right now. It would be even softer if those opposite had their way. Their approach to cuts in the budget would be a recipe for recession. We found a way to keep the economy growing at the same time that we're providing cost-of-living relief and getting the budget in much— (Time expired)

Opposition members interjecting—

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